Important Info
What Should You Bring to Camp?
Each season, we update our session packing lists with required items, optional items, and expert tips. Please see our packing list located on our website: www.genevaglen.org/packing
Helpful Packing Tips
- Dress warm! Campers experience at least one overnight and Colorado nights can be chilly!
- Clearly identify your child’s clothing with their name.
- Do not bring expensive items – they are inappropriate for camp. Camp is for personal relationships, individual growth and experiencing nature.
- Campers are not allowed to have cell phones at camp. A camper should only bring a cell phone if flying in from out-of-state. Cell phones will be kept in the camp safe.
- Closed-toed-shoes are required with Geneva Glen’s rocky, steep terrain.
Our policies prohibit any prescription medication or any kind of over-the-counter medication and vitamin supplements that are not checked in with our camp medical staff. Other items not allowed include drugs, tobacco of any kind (i.e. nicotine, electronic cigarettes, vaping, etc.), alcohol, marijuana, fireworks, matches, lighters, personal safety gear (i.e. helmets, climbing gear, etc.), gum, vehicles (including boards, bikes, scooters), and weapons of any variety. Please contact camp if your camper wants to bring any personal sports equipment (i.e. archery bows, bats, baseball gloves, lacrosse sticks, etc.)
View or download our packing listCheck-In
Checking in at Geneva Glen Camp is an exhilarating and sometimes scary experience for campers. Newcomers might arrive restless from a sleepless night, filled with nervous excitement and brimming with questions. Meanwhile, seasoned campers buzz with anticipation, eager to dash off to their dorms or cabins, reconnect with friends, and greet their counselors.
A few weeks before camp, we’ll send detailed instructions tailored to your child’s specific session.
Upon arrival, you’ll be warmly welcomed by our experienced and friendly Event Staff. They are well-versed in guiding families through the bustling check-in process, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience. We value your patience as we navigate this busy time together. Here’s what to expect during Check-In:
Step #1
- Complete a mandatory Release Form (Licensing Requirement).
- Verify and collect any missing CampInTouch Paperwork.
Step #2
Our Geneva Glen Health Services team will review your camper’s Health Form, address any medical questions or concerns, and document all medications. These will be securely stored at the Health Center. At this station, you’ll meet either our Health and Wellness Coordinator or a camp physician, who will conduct a health screening and note any special care instructions for your camper.
Step #3
The most fun and anticipated step! Campers will meet their counselors and be placed into living groups based on their grade level. We strive to honor requests for buddies to share a bunk, although we limit this to no more than two friends in the same group.
May We Help You?
When you arrive at camp, you will likely see some of our “ambassadors” (members of the camp Board of Directors or Alumni) who will be on hand to greet you and answer any of your questions about camp or direct you during the Check-In process.
Sportwear Sales
Geneva Glen’s boutique offers camp-friendly fashions that are high quality and an excellent value! Our sportswear sales representatives often are members of our Board, volunteers, and alumni.
Housing
North Hill (boys) dorms house 16 campers and counselors, and South Hill (girls) cabins house 9-12 campers and counselors. Bunks are preselected by a lottery. Campers are housed according to how they identify and would be most comfortable.
Please contact camp if your camper has any special circumstances requiring specific bunk placement. Our counselors are experts at welcoming and embracing campers into the group, and feelings of belonging quickly replace nervousness.
Pets at Check-In & Check-Out
We love dogs and understand that camp is fun for our furry friends; however, we do not allow pets at Check-In and Check-Out (no, not even if they are on a leash). You may leave your dog in the car, but please know that it does get hot inside vehicles even though we are in the mountains. Please abide by this policy and leave Fido at home.
Helpful Hints: Time to leave!
Parents/guardians are encouraged to meet the leaders, acquaint themselves with the counselor biographies, check out the accommodations, reassure their camper ... and leave! Parents/guardians who hang around too long can embarrass their camper and inhibit the normal interaction between kids and the get-acquainted activities of the group. Furthermore, if another camper in the cabin is feeling a little anxiety, the presence of a parent/guardians can intensify the onset of missing home.
After Check-In, we meet for our welcome, introductions, and mini-orientation, including a presentation of various areas and glimpses of coming events. Then, you can feel the electricity as the campers catch the “Magic of the Glen!”
Missing Home
Missing home is natural and may strike any age, but it is generally not a problem and can be overcome. Our approach is to keep our campers so engaged in fun activities that they forget about their worries and missing home. During staff training, we conduct several sessions and specific role-playing exercises with the guidance of psychologists and other trained professionals. These sessions equip our leaders with the tools they need to support campers effectively.
We take the well-being of campers who are missing home seriously, and our experience indicates that phone calls to or from family members are not the solution. If your camper does become homesick and it is serious or detrimental to your child’s camp experience, rest assured that we will contact you. Campers enjoy receiving messages from home, and we encourage you to be positive and upbeat in the letters you send to camp. These letters can help them feel connected and supported.
More than 95% of all campers report missing home on at least one day of their camp stay. It is normal! Read our Missing Home page for a more in-depth discussion on this subject and helpful tips to prepare your child for camp.
Sending Love to Your Camper & Care Packages
Unfortunately, camp does not have a way to accommodate the storage of care packages safely. For the safety of our campers, staff, and local wildlife, care packages are not allowed. Mailed letters are a welcome way to stay in contact with your camper! There are several ways to remind your child that you are thinking of them. Here are a few suggestions:
- Pre-write letters, label them for the day to be opened, and place them in your child’s trunk. These are a welcomed surprise for your child!
- Send self-addressed stamped envelopes and cards for your child to write letters to family and friends.
- Place 2-3 goodie bags in your child’s trunk. Have them open the goodie bag on a selected day. This is a way to send goodies for the entire cabin/dorm (please remember not to include any food). Campers love receiving glow-in-the-dark necklaces, fairy wands, matching t-shirts, etc.
Part of your camper’s tuition includes two free snack items when scheduled for the store. We will also be offering additional single-serve snacks free of charge throughout your camper’s stay.
Normal U.S. mail should be addressed as follows:
Camper Name
Geneva Glen Camp
P.O. Box 248
Indian Hills, CO 80454
Health Services
Geneva Glen’s philosophy toward health care is derived from the first four letters of the word: HEAL. Our camp environment adds health to the individual rather than subtracting illness from an individual. Our mission addresses the protection and development of the whole child, and health and wellness is a component that helps sustain and promote our campers’ wholeness.
To learn more about our health services program see the Health Services Page.
Travel Information
Geneva Glen is happy to provide transportation for our out-of-state campers! Please make reservations for Denver International Airport (DIA) within these time frames (for two-week sessions):
- Arriving on SUNDAY between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm (For flights outside of that window, later is better)
- Departing on SATURDAY between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm
- For campers attending Seedlings & Stardust or Myths & Magic that need airport transportation, contact us (see below).
If you have to make arrangements outside of that time frame, please contact camp to discuss the best options. We will do our best to accommodate all flights, but we cannot guarantee staff availability for flights outside of the 11 am to 2 pm window.
Contact us at ggcamp@genevaglen.org with your flight reservations, and we’ll provide more detailed information regarding our airport run procedures. Please don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions!
Visits to Camp and Visiting Day
Because Geneva Glen’s regular sessions are only two weeks, a visiting day is not scheduled and visits to camp are not allowed. If your camper forgets something and you live a short drive away, please mail the forgotten item or contact camp.
If it’s an absolute necessity that you come to the camp, please call ahead and coordinate with our concierge. It is important that you be as invisible as you can and to leave as soon as possible! We don’t wish to make you feel unwelcome, but please understand that when a camper sees a parent/guardian, it can be a serious disruption to the camper’s experience and adversely affect others in the group. Feel free to call and let us help you make appropriate arrangements ahead of time.
Off-Season Visits
We often receive inquiries about visiting Geneva Glen Camp during the off-season. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer camp tours at this time. However, we invite families to join us at our annual Strawberry Pancake Breakfast in late May. This event is a wonderful opportunity for first-year camper families to tour the camp and meet members of our Board of Directors, some of the GG staff, and our year-round team. It’s also a perfect time to learn about Geneva Glen’s rich history and connect with other camp families, cabinmates, and staff in a relaxed, festive setting.
Leaving Early and Coming Late
At Geneva Glen, we strive to create a cohesive and enriching experience filled with challenges, camaraderie, ceremonies, and fun. Our activities are designed to foster strong bonds from day one, making it crucial for all campers to arrive on time. Late arrivals can experience a sense of alienation, impacting not only their own experience but also the spirit and cohesion of their cabin group.
Our camp schedule is also meticulously planned to build up to emotionally significant group activities and ceremonies, culminating in meaningful rituals on the last day. These rituals are not just events but moments of profound significance in your child’s camp experience. Therefore, we strongly encourage campers to stay for the entire session. If conflicts such as sports schedules, drama tryouts, or vacation plans might cause your child to miss part of the session, please get in touch with us in advance to discuss the possibility of transferring to a different session.
At Geneva Glen Camp, we strongly discourage temporary departures during sessions. Allowing campers to leave and re-enter poses security risks due to increased traffic in and out of the camp and disrupts the group’s unity and dynamics. We ask for cooperation from all families to maintain an uninterrupted camp experience.
Parents/guardians must coordinate with the Camp Administration if a camper needs to leave and return during a session. Families must adhere strictly to established departure and return time policies.
While we recognize that emergencies can occur, we emphasize that a complete and continuous stay is crucial for a successful and fulfilling camp experience. We appreciate your support in adhering to these guidelines to ensure the safety and cohesion of our camp community.
Check-Out
Please allow extra time for the Check-Out, as there will be many heartfelt goodbyes, award presentations, and songs. We kindly ask that you do not arrive earlier than the scheduled Check-Out time to help us maintain our schedule and ensure a smooth transition for all campers.
Upon arrival, please proceed to your camper’s cabin or dorm, where a counselor will assist you. During Check-Out, counselors will provide the Release Form you signed at Check-In. The designated responsible person must sign this form. Additionally, remember to collect any medications sent with your camper and take a moment to check the lost and found and mail.
As with Check-In, camp will provide specific instructions tailored to your camper’s session to help ensure an efficient and enjoyable process.
Lost & Found
Ensuring that your camper returns home with all their belongings is crucial. We strongly urge you to take an active role in this by labeling all clothing and personal items clearly with the camper’s name. This simple step can significantly minimize the chances of items getting lost.
- During the Session: Lost and found items are collected in a designated box at the bottom of the Lodge. Campers and counselors are encouraged to check this box daily for missing items.
- At Check-Out: We will guide parents/guardians and campers to the lost and found area to retrieve any items they may have misplaced during their stay. Items not claimed by the end of the session are bagged and stored by session and held until the end of summer.
- Post-Camp Retrieval: We accept phone or email requests to match and retrieve items if items are still unclaimed after campers leave. Local families are encouraged to arrange pick-up for their items. All unclaimed items are generously donated to local shelters, missions, or charities by September.
- Valuables: The camp office secures valuable items such as jewelry, cameras, keys, and prescription glasses. We retain these items for one year before disposing of them, giving owners ample time to reclaim them.
We understand that managing lost and found is challenging, and it’s often the last task we address after a busy summer. We deeply appreciate your understanding and efforts to prevent loss. While we strive to ensure all belongings return to their rightful owners, please understand that it may not always be possible in every case.
The Long Drive Home
We commonly hear from parents that their child seemed exhausted or less talkative on the drive home after camp. This is often because campers may have stayed up later than usual on their last night. There is always an adjustment period when transitioning from camp life to daily routines, and your child might need time to process their experiences. While they may appear merely dirty and tired, what’s important is what’s happening on the inside.
Processing the camp experience can take time, so being patient and listening is essential when they are ready to share. If they are reticent, remember that every child is different; some may need to reflect quietly, while others might talk non-stop. Please encourage them to keep in touch with their counselors and cabinmates to continue sharing their experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if there is an emergency and I need to get a hold of my child?
The camp conceirge desk answers the phone throughout the day and evening and will provide assistance. After hours, the automated camp telephone system routes calls to different persons and locations, and indicates phone numbers and emergency numbers. In the highly unlikely event that cell phone service in addition to the phone service to Indian Hills is down, the most direct means of communicating an emergency is through the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. The number is 303-277-0211. Your local 911 also can notify the Jefferson County Sheriff Department. Your local 911 also can notify the Jefferson County Sheriff Department.
Can my camper be housed with a friend?
Camp is a perfect time for forging new friendships. We try to not bunk more than one pal with another. If three are together in such a small cabin group, it can be hard on the other kids in the cabin. We’ll try to accommodate your requests, but we will keep our limitation policy in mind when assigning housing.
What if my child is a picky eater?
The meals at camp are balanced and nutritious and are made with a child in mind. Our counselors are trained to be supportive of good eating habits and good table manners. Each camper eats at least ONE of every item from the plate, and our counselors model this behavior. No camper starves at Geneva Glen and options are always available (but not used as a substitute for food the camper simply doesn’t like).
Typical GG Menu:
- Breakfast – Scrambled eggs, cereal, sausage, bananas, and orange juice
- Lunch – Grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup, carrot and celery sticks, chocolate chip cookie
- Dinner – Grilled chicken, rice, steamed vegetables, ice cream
How do you handle bed-wetting? What if my child wears pull-ups?
Campers sleep in their own sleeping bags. If a camper wets the bed, the counselor is trained to be discreet and quiet about the incident and stifle any teasing from others in the group. Other kids are removed from the area while the camper and the counselor together take the bag to be dropped off for laundering. The camper will be provided another sleeping bag until it is returned. A child using pull-ups at camp is not uncommon. Campers using pull-ups are responsibile for disposing the pull-up in a plastic bag. Most will discretly change in their sleeping bag or in the bathroom.
Is Knighthood I a "prerequisite" for Knighthood II?
No – Knighthood always is a month and it is divided into a pair of two-week sessions. The names are for chronological reasons only. One is not a prerequisite of the other.
What's the difference between Knighthood I and Knighthood II?
Knighthood I unfolds the history of the Arthurian legends and the Round Table stories, by learning of Merlin. The culminating event of Knighthood I is "Merlin’s Masque," an all-day play that takes place in the Council Ring in three acts and dramatizes the book entitled The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart.
Knighthood II picks up where Knighthood I ends in the story line as Merlin ushers in the rise of King Arthur and the coming of Camelot. During Knighthood II, campers vote for a King, Queen, and Court of Camelot. The culminating event of Knighthood II is a day-long Pageant in six acts, performed by members of the Court. All cabin and dorm groups present a gift to the Court during the Pageant, in the form of music, drama, dance, or a tangible gift. Knighthood I and Knighthood II end with Court and Induction, the ceremony with the most meaning during these two sessions.
Which session best suits my child?
Each of our theme programs are unique and distinctive. They date back to the early years of camp and serve a very individual purpose. Each theme offers a completely different expression and you may find one particular session best suits your camper.
Geneva Glen offers five themes through six sessions. Each session is cherished for its position in the camp’s heritage. Each theme focuses on a particular value that is unique and unequaled in residential summer camps. Contact camp for more information.
Can I sign up for next year?
Our application process opens each year in the Fall, usually during October.
When can parents come?
We receive many requests for “adult camp!” From time to time, we offer some family-oriented programming in the fall. Keep watching our emails for announcements about these programs. We do schedule a Family Camp every five years!
Does Geneva Glen offer scholarships?
Yes! The goal of providing tuition assistance to attend Geneva Glen Camp is to ensure that camp is financially accessible to all children (both new and current campers) through support generously donated by our Camp Family each year. Tuition assistance (full or partial tuition) is awarded to campers who might not otherwise be able to attend Geneva Glen. The purpose of the program is to eliminate financial barriers and expand access to the full Geneva Glen experience.
Go to www.genevaglen.org/camperships for more information or to apply.
